Ross Atkins has misinterpreted the requirements of the Blue Jays.
When Blue Jays General Manager Ross Atkins took the microphone for his first media conference of the year, he had the opportunity to explain a strategy to right the ship.It was an opportunity to give Blue Jays supporters something to be excited about heading into the new year.
Atkins did the reverse.”We feel like last year was just a blip in terms of run-scoring,” Mr. Atkins said.Toronto was third in the MLB in runs scored in 2021, with 846, followed by a decrease to 775 in 2022 and an even greater drop to 746 in 2023.
The Blue Jays hit.260 with runners in scoring position in 2023, a figure that was quite comparable to.258 in 2022. Both were lower than the 2021 average of.266.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the 2021 AL MVP runner-up and franchise face, personifies the team’s struggles.Guerrero peaked in 2021, with 6.3 wins above replacement (WAR), a comprehensive metric of total worth.
Since then, he has had a 2.8 WAR in 2022 and a poor 1.0 WAR this season.All of this indicates that the problem is more than a blip, but rather the start of a long-term deterioration.
However, if Atkins is given the benefit of the doubt and this is a hiccup, the Jays should strive for the same output in 2024 with their summer signings.So far, they haven’t done that.
The Blue Jays have grown worse.Toronto let third baseman Matt Chapman depart in free agency, but the addition of utility infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa suggested the Jays could manage third base with Kiner-Falefa and Santiago Espinal.
Kiner-Falefa and Espinal combined for 0.3 WAR in 2023, which falls short of Chapman’s 3.5 WAR.The Jays also re-signed center fielder Kevin Kiermaier, a contentious move considering his age, 33, and the fact that Daulton Varsho, 27, can play the position just as well defensively.
Varsho also has far higher power, which is beneficial to total run-scoring attempts and unusual among center fielders.
The Jays should have concentrated on trading for Juan Soto, who has since joined the Yankees. Or they might have signed former MVP Cody Bellinger, whose career has been rejuvenated.Although Bellinger is presently unsigned, it is expected that Toronto will not make an offer due to their outfield depth.
The Jays’ offensive prospects are bleak, and Atkins’ refusal to embrace the realities will not change anything.
The youthful Baltimore Orioles club won 101 games last season, the New York Yankees improved significantly this offseason, and the Tampa Bay Rays always found a way to win, so their route to success isn’t getting any easier.If Atkins refuses to embrace reality, the Blue Jays risk losing their significance. The time for him to act is now.